Gary Lineker and wife Danielle Bux divorce: Did couple end marriage after disagreeing on starting a family?

Gary Lineker and wife Danielle have divorced after six years of marriageReuters

Football pundit Gary Lineker and his wife Danielle Bux have divorced after six years of marriage. Sources claim the marriage crumbled as the pair were unable to agree on whether to have children together.

Lineker, 55, and Welsh model Danielle are said to have filed for a quickie divorce costing £400 with the Decree Nisi finalised on Wednesday 13 January 2016, the Mail Online reports. A spokesperson confirmed the divorce, telling the newspaper: "Gary and Danielle have decided to end their marriage and their divorce was confirmed today with the judge granting a Decree Nisi. They remain the greatest of friends and wish each other every happiness."

Addressing the news personally, Lineker told his Twitter followers: "Thank you all for your kind words. @DanielleBux and I had many wonderful years together. We remain very close and the greatest of friends." Danielle added: "We have shared the most incredible 8 years that I will always cherish. We will remain the best of friends."

The publication alleges that Danielle, 36, was keen to start a family with the retired footballer but the father-of-four did not want to have any more children. Danielle is mother to 14-year-old daughter Ella from her previous relationship with ex Coventry City footballer Adam Willis, while Gary is father to four sons, George, 23, Harry, 21, Tobias, 19, and Angus, 17, from his first marriage to Michelle Cockayne.

A source said of their disagreement: "They made a great couple but their different views on having children is what made them realise had to split. They both know it is the right thing to do and are looking forward to the future. They are convinced they will stay friends."

In 2010, Lineker admitted he was not keen on expanding his family, telling The Times: "She has a child from a previous relationship and I have four of my own, so we are not sure if we want any more. Some weeks it seems like a good idea, other weeks it doesn't. When we are on a plane and we hear screaming babies, it definitely doesn't."

News of Lineker and Danielle's divorce will come as a surprise as the former couple were pictured together last on 4 January 2016 enjoying what appeared to be a date night at the theatre to see the play The Wasp in London. In 2009, the pair married secretly in a civil service held in Ravello, Italy before hosting a reception for family and friends at a later date.